About the Author: Rev. Deshna Charron Shine

Deshna is the former Executive Director of ProgressiveChristianity.org & Progressing Spirit where she worked 2006 -2020. She is an ordained Interfaith Minister and Chaplain (2019), Certified Healing Ritual Facilitator (2020), Certified Yoga Instructor (2000) published author, and International speaker. She has presented at conferences in Canada, Australia, Hawaii, Seattle, Portland and elsewhere. She is a Lead Author, Project Director, and Editor on the Children’s Curriculum: A Joyful Path, Spiritual Curriculum. Deshna is the visionary and Executive Producer of Embrace Festival, a 3 day in-city festival in Portland, OR that focuses on Sacred Community, Social Transformation and the Arts. Deshna grew up in an amazing Progressive Christian church, IUCC, in Irvine California as a PK (pastor's kid) and so was blessed to be involved in a community that was open, educated, innovative, and inclusive. She was involved in the church at many different levels, as a representative for youth at National UCC Conferences, as a youth group leader, and a camp counselor for many years. She went to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she graduated with honors as a Religious Studies major and a Global Peace and Security minor. This led her to be a part of the Global Reconciliation Service in New York doing some work with the United Nations. She has worked in Administration for the UC Education Abroad Program, as an Infant Specialist for a non-profit organization, as a Spanish Teacher for elementary children, and as a Yoga Instructor. Deshna co-wrote a book, Missing Mothers with her mom. During her free time, she continues to write, do yoga, dance, hike, and enjoy her life in Portland with her wonderful community, her partner Jessica and her daughter, Kaila.
  • Q&A With Rev. Deshna Shine

    By Published On: April 15, 2022

    Everything is complex and sometimes things that seem “bad” or hard, challenging, frightening, un-grounding, unknown, or tragic in the moment lead to amazing things later that we can not predict. Sometimes, the suffering in the moment leads to evolution down the line that may not even be noticed or seen.

  • Q&A with Rev. Deshna Shine

    By Published On: March 23, 2022

    There are also many scientific studies that show words have energy and can affect living beings being spoken to. Plants exposed to kind words grow more and are healthier than ones who experience silence or negative words.

  • By Published On: October 21, 2021

    The final Marcus Borg Memorial Conference in association with the 2021 Carrs Lane Lectures in Radical Christian Faith, was held online October 19, 2021. The conference brought together two leading and younger voices for progressive Christianity in the USA and Australia.

  • By Published On: September 29, 2021

    How does one begin the journey of personal transformation?

  • By Published On: May 8, 2021

    There are so many theories on who or what god is, or if they even exist. Whether god is in us or around us, separate from us or above us. For me the bottom line is there is more to our existence than can be explained by science.

  • By Published On: September 19, 2020

    I believe what Spong was referring to was the idea that the most profound way we can be in relationship with God (the Divine, Great Mystery, Nameless One) is to love one another and to love deeply.

  • By Published On: July 28, 2020

    Are you passionate about progressive Christianity?   We are seeking 4 new additional Board members!     Join our Team!  

  • By Published On: July 28, 2020

    Are you passionate about progressive Christianity? We are seeking 4 new additional Board members! Join our Team! ProgressiveChristianity.org Board Members: Meet

  • By Published On: May 23, 2020

    I believe what Spong was referring to was the idea that the most profound way we can be in relationship with God (the Divine, Great Mystery, Nameless One) is to love one another and to love deeply.

  • By Published On: April 20, 2020

    Will you join us in making a difference for children all over the world? Today, children are seriously undernourished when it comes to

  • By Published On: April 15, 2020

    Do you read the ENTIRE Bible? My desire would be that my children and grandchildren are not exposed to this belief system. It is not Biblical.

  • By Published On: January 7, 2020

    As we wrap up our financials for 2019, we’d like to express our gratitude for your support during our Year End Fundraising Campaign! We were able to reach 50% of our year end goal with a total amount of $35,500. You can still help us get closer by donating this month.

  • By Published On: December 1, 2019

    These are crucial times for the planet we call home. The toxic and institutionalized systems of racism, tribalism, colonialism, culture appropriation, sexism, and the general oppression of marginalized people have been thrust to the surface of our society. While this is scary and disturbing, it is also a necessary step toward the eradication of white privilege, white fragility, and an empiric worldview.

  • By Published On: October 11, 2019

    Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder and Rev. Deshna Charron Shine discuss what makes a healthy and thriving church community, how to continually feel nourished by the teachings of Jesus, and how our beliefs inform our actions.

  • By Published On: July 29, 2019

    My daughter and I had a very good conversation regarding my Progressive beliefs. When it came to the Good God she insisted there must be a Bad Spirit.

  • ********** Review of 2018 **********

    By Published On: December 9, 2018

    When you give, we are able to continue to create meaningful children's curriculum that has the power to shape the future of our world by impacting thousands of communities worldwide. When you give, we are able to maintain a website that is a global community and open source for progressive Christians everywhere. When you give, we are able to support authors, activists, leaders, teachers, liturgists, musicians and theologians to share their explorations and creations with a global audience. When you give, we are able to partner and work closely with other organizations making sure to support the movement — and not just our place in it. We are leading dynamic explorations in theology and sharing expansive and relevant ways to practice devotion.

  • By Published On: May 12, 2018

    This is something I can not understand about humans. I see in humans the same fierceness as we have, but it comes from Fear. Don't you know Fear will be the slow death of you? Truly there is nothing to fear. Death is natural, cycles are natural, sickness is natural. These things keep the balance. Like Sun and Moon, we are interconnected in a rhythmic way. You can take from us, yes. But when you take too many of us, you are only hurting all of us, including you.

  • By Published On: November 18, 2017

    Progressive Christianity is a unique and beautiful movement. It is a vital landing space for hundreds of thousands of humans around the world. Though small, it is growing. And there continues to be a very large percentage of people in this world that consider themselves Christian. At some point many of those will question what they are being told in church. Many will find that the theology presented in their church does not match their understanding of science and/or their values. And they will, perhaps, consider leaving their church. But many will not if their isn’t a better alternative. People who have Christianity in their heritage, their culture, and their traditions are often not ready to straight up leave Christianity all together.

  • By Published On: November 17, 2017

    There have been many people over the years who encourage us to drop "Christianity" from our name. Here are my two cents on why I am not ok with that. Progressive Christianity is a unique and beautiful movement. It is a vital landing space for hundreds of thousands of humans around the world. Though small, it is growing. And there continues to be a very large percentage of people in this world that consider themselves Christian. At some point many of those will question what they are being told in church. Many will find that the theology presented in their church does not match their understanding of science and/or their values. And they will, perhaps, consider leaving their church. But many will not if their isn’t a better alternative. People who have Christianity in their heritage, their culture, and their traditions are often not ready to straight up leave Christianity all together.

  • By Published On: November 8, 2017

    When we ponder religion and faith, we often think of their more modern day manifestations and how much devastation and destruction has been done in the name of religion. It is hard to remember that most major religions were born out of a profound mystical experience, flowing from an inner realization, which was then attempted to be shared via language and action. My own feelings toward religion have been complicated, confusing and challenging. Growing up in a very liberal, progressive Christian church, I had a meaningful and positive experience of the community that gathers around an organized religion and yet it was impossible for me to forget the vast atrocities which have been done in the name of Christianity over the last 2000 years. I also felt tired of the same mistranslated, seemingly irrelevant book used week after week, the same teacher held up on the pedestal week after week, a man who had died fighting for his cause over 2000 years before, who while an amazing human, was no different than you or I, just a man. I looked around and saw many incredible human beings doing phenomenal work in the world, affecting positive change and expanding upon some of the great mystic teachers, and yet no one was singing about them each week.

  • by Ana María Tijoux

    By Published On: March 26, 2017

    Feminism is liberation, and for that reason we must liberate ourselves from the oppression of capital. “Another feminism” isn’t a slogan, it’s a daily act, simple but strong. It’s transformation, it’s community. It’s freedom.

  • By Published On: March 22, 2017

    "For all Children and the Next 7 Gerenations, We Stand United with Standing Rock, All Waters of the Earth, and All Life."

  • By Published On: March 20, 2017

    Listen to ProgressiveChristianity.org's Director Deshna Ubeda talk about their exciting Embrace Festival coming to Portland, OR May 4-6th, 2017.

  • By Published On: March 9, 2017

    We're celebrating 10 years this summer, and this stunning new video has us all sorts of sentimental. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for this family and can't wait to reunite with you on August 11th-14th for the best Beloved yet.